GREENVILLE, S.C. — Queens University of Charlotte softball held firm in the seventh inning to take down Furman by a score of 7-6 at Pepsi Stadium on Tuesday evening. The Royals used timely hitting and a strong bullpen performance to fend off a seventh-inning rally by the Paladins.

ROYAL RUNDOWN

• After falling behind 3-0 in the first inning, Queens clawed back and ultimately outscored Furman 7-3 the rest of the way. Natalie Windham played hero with a three-RBI performance, including a clutch two-run home run in the seventh.
• Queens racked up 11 hits on the evening, with Windham and Madyson Daughtry leading the way at the plate. Windham went 2-for-3 with a double, a homer, and three RBIs, while Daughtry added a pair of hits and scored once. Lindsey DeRoeck delivered two RBIs, including a sacrifice fly and a double, and Makala Strickland drove in a key run as a pinch hitter.
• After being held scoreless in the first, the Royals scored in four of the next six innings. A two-run second tied the game, and they never trailed again after adding a single tally in the third. Windham's go-ahead homer in the seventh made it 7-4 before Furman mounted a rally that ultimately fell short.
• Freshman Taylor Jones came on in relief and was stellar, tossing 4.1 innings of one-run ball while scattering five hits and striking out two. She earned the win to improve to 4-4 on the season.
• Kenzie Forrester slammed the door shut in the final two innings, recording her team-leading fifth save despite giving up two unearned runs in the seventh. The senior escaped a bases-loaded jam to preserve the one-run victory.
• The Royals committed just one error and turned in several clean defensive plays behind their pitchers. DeRoeck anchored the infield with 10 putouts at first base, and Jordyn Thompson contributed four assists from third. Kaylee DeJesus also added three putouts in left field and stole a base.
• Queens outhit Furman 11-10 and recorded three doubles and a homer.
• The Royals were 5-for-11 with two outs and collected three two-out RBIs.
• Jordyn Thompson contributed both at the plate and in the field in her first appearance this season as a Royal. The senior third baseman notched an RBI single in the fourth inning and executed a sacrifice bunt, finishing 1-for-2 with a run batted in.

POSTGAME COMMENTS
"Jordyn [Thompson] got a opportunity tonight and really capitalized on it," head coach Kella Armstrong said. "With Brooke [Piper] being injured it was next woman up and she did a great job! It was a great team win, they really had each others back on all aspects of the game today."

UP NEXT
The Royals head on the road on April 12 to face Stetson for a 1 PM start.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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